Mid Island Sustainability & Stewardship Initiative Public Meeting

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Saturday, November 16th, 2013
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Last November MISSI was celebrating it�s fifth anniversary and preparing for its December AGM, �basking in our success as Nanaimo became the first City in the world to embrace sustainable development by proclaiming A Day For Our Common Future" according to Laurie Gourlay, the retired president of the Mid Island Sustainability & Stewardship Initiative.

A year later MISSI is planning to take its success Island-wide.

�We�ll be looking for a repeat of the Proclamation this year in Nanaimo,� says Gourlay, who�s coming out of retirement to again lead the non-profit society. �And we�ll be inviting all municipal and regional governments on Vancouver Island to also proclaim 'A Day For Our Common Future'.

With the Island in mind MISSI plans to adapt its mandate for sustainability and stewardship, adopting a new name appropriate to its new goals - the Vancouver Island and Coast Conservation Society (VICCS).

"We'll still attend to campaigns we've been advancing for the Nanaimo River and local aquifers, the National Marine Conservation Area for the Island's south-east coast, and Trans Canada Trail connections," says Gourlay, "while we nurture and host a couple of bold Island-wide initiatives until they leave the nest in June, during Canadian Environment Week."

Over the next half-year the non-profit Society expects to identify representatives from all sectors, to form an 'Island Roundtable on the Environment and Economy'. "The Island Roundtable will be solutions-focused, timely and looking for deliverables specific to each sector - and for the Island."

"And the Society has agreed to host a six-month campaign to re-issue an 1885 VI stamp," adds Scott Akenhead, MISSI's outgoing president, "along with a broad and open public discussion about the potential for Vancouver Island being declared the 11th Province of Canada." (www.viprovince.ca)

MISSI sees Vancouver Island challenged by climate change, water and food security issues, along with an increasing population - requiring many important Island decisions about sustainability and stewardship. "It's both a critical and an exciting time in the future of Vancouver Island," says Gourlay. "And we want to be partners in finding the solutions that will serve the Island and the coast."
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MISSI will be holding a day-long public meeting to discuss its plans on Saturday November 16th, 10am- 4pm, at the Cedar Heritage Centre, 1655 MacMillan Road, Cedar.

Everyone is welcome.